Multipurpose tools and wallet holders therefor



Aug. 19, 1969v J. MoRmsaoN 3,461,469

MULTIPURPOSE TOOLS AND WALLET HOLDERS THERBFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 24, 1966 I NVEN TOR. Jf/F *WR/SMV ATTORNEY Aug. 19., 1969 J. MonmsloN. 3-461v469 MULTIPuRrosE 'rooLs AND WALLET HOLDERS THEREFOR v med June '24, 196e 2 sheets-sneer 2 ful l INVENTOR.

A 7' TORIVE X 7i 74 ./fss/E Mann/slow' United States Patent 3,461,469 MULTIPURPosE TooLs AND WALLET HOLDERS THEREFOR l The tool comprises a substantially rectangular, flat plate formed with a wedge having a first inclined e'dge adjacent its lower edge extending to a notch connected to an end edge of the plate -by a second inclined edge. The plate is formed with a pointed wedge at one end of me notch. The notch comprises a wrench opening. The first inclined edge is a cutting edge. The lower edge of the plate is a cutting edge. The plate is alsoformed withva rectangular opening having inner edges parallel to an end edge of the plate. A corner formed at the junction of an end edge and a side edge of the plate, comprises a screw driver edge. A face of the plate is formed with an inwardly curved recess for pressing down against heads or nails. The plate is formed with a second opening having parallel edges inclined to the end edges of the plate. A corner of the second opening is located at a point Where the plate may hang at a balance with its upper edge in horizontal position. One of the end edges of the plate is formed with a V-shaped notch having a bevelled surface for prying up nails and tacks. Onesurface of the plate is formed with a serrated filing surface and also with a serrated match striking surface. The plate is snugly and slidably received in a rectangular pocket of a wallet. The plate is made of magnetizedsteel. The first inclined edge is formed With a hooked sharpened edge portion extending from the first inclined edge.

This invention relates to multipurpose tools and wallet holders therefor.

An object of this invention is to provide a single tool of the character described, with means to enable it to be used for the following among other uses:v

( l) For cutting as with a knife (2) To cut and opencans such as beer cans, and food cans (3) To penetrate, puncture and punch holes in belts or leather (4) To open bottle caps, and as a fish lure (5) To serve as a wrench for various size nuts, bolts or screws (6) To serve as a mirror (7) To serve as a screw driver (8) To serve as a signaling device by means of light rays (9) To serve as a compass (10) To pull up nails or tacks and to bend and strip wire (1l) To drive nails or needles (12) To cleave objects, and for use as a gutting hook (13) To scale fish and apply cement or adhesive (14) To be used as a file and for striking matches.

Another object of this invention is to provide a wallet type holder for a tool of the character described, comprising a pocket to receive the tool, and said tool being provided with a groove for insertion of a finger nail therein to pull the tool out of the pocket; means being provided to hold the tool within the pocket, and said wallet -being provided with a plurality of foldable wallet pockets, including pockets to carry water purifying pills,

ICC

fish hooks, matches, fishing lines, safety pins, needles, strips of lead, hair pins, fishing fiies, a needle threader, band aids, identification cards and like survival articles.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a tool of the character described, formed with a hole through which the fingers of the users may be inserted to hold the tool when being used, and said tool being reducingly tapered from one side to the other, and from the top down, and being formed witha hole through which a filament may be passed, and on which the tool will balance and turn towards the magnetic North Pole (if the tool is magnetized).

-Yeta further object of this invention is to provide a tool of the character described, provided with a longitudinal `cutting edge having different tapers along different longitudinal edge portions thereof.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a tool of the character described, with a backing handle formed with a slot to receive an edge of the tool, to facilitate handling of the tool in use. The tool embodying the invention may be used as a hunting knife or as a survival,tool and may be made of stain-less steel with a chrome finish, said tool having at least two edges forming right angles to one another so that it can be used for measuring a right angle. The tool helps to keep the wallet in shape and since it can be kept in the wallet, it will not wear holes in a coat pocket. This tool may be used by pilots, by pack carriers on expeditions, by astronauts and may be used by many others as an every day utility tool.

A further object of this invention is to provide strong, rugged and -durable devices of the character described, which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, light in weight, easy to manipulate and which yet shall be practical and efficient to a high degree of use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of invention will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown an illustrative embodiment fo this invention,

FIG. l is a top plan view of a survival tool embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 4-4 of FIG. l;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5 5 of FIG. l;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. l;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. l;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view illustrating the cutting of the top of a can;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view with the tool in crosse section, illustrating the use of the tool for prying open a bottle cap;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional View of the tool illustrating the use of the tool as a Cleaver when striking it with a rock or similar article;

FIG. 11 is an end view of the tool with a handle mounted thereon;

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of a wallet and tool embodying the invention and with the wallet opened up;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 13-13 of FIG. 12; and

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 14-14 of FIG. 12.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, designates a device embodying the invention and comprising a wallet 11 in which is mounted a tool 13. The tool 13 may be made from stainless steel or other suitable material, and its opposite sides may be chrome plated or polished to provide a mirror surface on either one or both sides. Said tool 13 is generally rectangular in shape and has a top or upper longitudinal edge 14 with end edges 15 and 16 and a lower or bottom edge 17. Edges 15 and 16 are at right angles to the edge 14. The tool tapers down from left to right and from top to bottom, looking at FIG. l, said tapered surfaces being symmetrical at opposite sides of the tool with respect to a vertical plane through the longitudinal mid-section of the tool. Thus each side of the tool has pyramidal surfaces with the apex at the corner formed by the edges 14 and 15. The edges 16 and 17 form the base of such pyramidal surfaces. The lower edge 17, however, has a bevelled cutting edge 1S at its left end, forming a sharp cutting edge 19, and bevelled surfaces at its right end forming a fine cutting edge 21. The bevelled surfaces 18 form a smaller angle than the bevelled surfaces 2f). Said tool 13 may be formed with a through opening 24 near the upper edge 14 so located that if a fine filament is put through said opening, the tool will balance on said filament with the top edge horizontal. The tool may be magnetized so that if a filament is passed through the opening 24 and the tool balanced on such filament, said tool will point towards the magnetic North Pole.

Since the tool is polished or chrome plated it may be used as a mirror. It is formed with a rectangular opening 25 at a diagonal angle. Thus the tool may be used as a signalling device and light retiector. The opening 25 may be rectangular in shape and the tool may be held for use, by putting the fingers through the opening 25, as shown in FIG. 10. When fingers are put through the opening 25, the tool may be held and used as a cleaver. A rock 26 or mallet or stick of wood may be used to strike against the upper edge 14. The corner formed by the edges 14 and 15 may be rounded as at 27. At one face of the tool, adjacent to the rounded edge 27, is a circular curved cavity or depression 28. With this construction nails or needles may be pressed down into wood or other objects by the use of the tool. At the corner formed by the corners 14 and 16 of the tool, is a bevelled diagonal edge 29 to enable the tool to be used as a screw driver.

The tool may be also formed with a second rectangular opening 30. Edge 31 of opening 30 is parallel to edge 14. An opposite edge 32 is parallel to edge 31. Another edge 33 is parallel to edge 16. The hole 30 has an edge 34 parallel to edge 33. At one surface of the tool the edges 31, 32 and 33 are bevelled upwardly and outwardly as at 31a, 32a, 33a. At the opposite side, edge 34 is bevelled downwardly as at 34a. Thus bevelled surfaces 34a, which extends from edge 34, and bevelled surfaces 33a, which extend from edge 33 are parallel. Bevelled surfaces 31a and 32a extending from edges 31 and 32 are bevelled in opposite directions and towards the' upper surface of the tool. With this construction the tool 13, as shown in FIG. 9, may be used for prying open caps 40 of bottles 41.

The tool is provided with means at one end for prying open nails or thumbtacks. To this end, the tool is formed at its edge 1S with a V-shaped notch 42 having bevelled surfaces 43 at opposite sides of the notch. Thus, the tool may be slipped under the head of a tack, with the head of the tack engaging the bevelled edges 43, for prying open the tack.

Said tool, in the edge 14 thereof, may be formed with a plurality of wrench notches 45 of various sizes, for turning a hex head bolt or screw or a hex nut or a square head or nut.

Said tool is furthermore formed at one corner with a sharp first point 46 at one end of edge 17, and with a cutting edge 47 forming an acute angle therewith. Edge 47 is inclined upwardly and toward end edge 15. Opposite sides of the cutting edge 47 are bevelled as at 48. Extending from the edge 47 is a hooked second point 49 pointing toward edge 16. The bevelled surfaces 48 merge with bevelled surfaces 50 which extends to the second point 49. Thus the tool has a cutting edge extending from point 49 to cutting edge 47. Extending from the point 49 is an edge 51 parallel to the lower edge 16 of the tool. Extending upwardly from the end of edge S1, at right angles thereto, is an edge 52. Extending from the upper end of edge 52, is an edge 53. Extending from the outer end of the edge 53, toward the edge 17 is an edge 54 terminating at a thid point 55. Extending from the third point 55 is an upwardly and outwardly inclined edge 56. Edge 56 is inclined toward the edge 16. With this construction the tool may be used to cut tops of beer cans, as illustrated in FIG. 8. The upper rim 60 of can 61 is engaged by the third point 55 of the tool. The tool is then moved in a counterclockwise direction, looking at FIG. 8, and the edge 47 will cut the top of the can radially. Several cuts forming an apex may be made, and then the pie shaped portion between the radial cuts may be pushed down with the tool by pressing the point 46 down against said pie shaped portion.

The device may also be used as a food can opener and may also be used to remove the entire top of such cans. This may be done by cutting a series of cuts following the outline of the inner rim of the can all around.

The tool, at edge 1S, may be formed with a serrated edge portion 60a for removing fish scales or for spreading cement or adhesive. Thus, the tool may be used as an applicator. The serrated edge 60a may be located between the notch 42 and the edge 17. It will be noted that the open hole formed by the edges 51, 52, l53 and 54 provides a wrench opening. The point `46 may be used to penetrate or punch holes in belts or leather.

At the undersurface of the tool, shown in FIG. 1, a triangular portion may be formed with a serrated file surface 61a. Thus the tool may ybe used for filing and a match may be struck by rubbing against the file surface. The file surface 61a is located between the opening 25 and the bevelled edges 18, 20. The file surface may comprise serrated edges in a herrinbone shape with the apices running toward the right end of the tool, as shown in FIG. 1.

If desired, one point 65 of the rectangular opening 25 will be located at the balance point of the tool so that a hair or any fine filament may be placed through the hole 25 and engaged with the corner 65 so as t0 balance the tool on the filament. When the tool hangs in balance the tool (if magnetized) will swing towards the magnetic North Pole, as shown in FIG. 1l.

A wooden or plastic handle 65a may have longitudinal groove 66 to fit the upper edge portion 14 of the tool. The tool may wedge into said groove to facilitate handling and holding of the tool when in use. This handle 65a is removable.

When the handle is removed, the tool may be inserted into a pocket member 70 fixed in the wallet 11. The wallet 11 may comprise a leather or plastic elongated back sheet 72. The pocket 70v may have a top wall 73 and a bottom wall 74 (adhered or otherwise attached to a strip 72). The top and bottom walls 73, 74 may be interconnected by an end wall 75 and side walls 76. The pocket is open at one end and the tool 13 is inserted through the open end. One face of the tool'may be formed vwith a groove 77 parallel to and close to the serrated edge 77. To withdraw the tool, the top wall 73 is pushed up a little, and then a fingernail can be put into groove 7'7 to pull out the tool. The bottom wall 74 of the holder may have an upwardly recessed portion 78 which may project into the hole 30, to keep the tool in the holder. A magnet 80 placed on a top wall 73 will attract the tool by magnetism so as to also help keep the tool from accidentally sliding out of the pocket.

The back sheet 72 extends beyond the holder 75 and carries a series of foldable transparent plastic pockets 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90 and 91 at right angles to said back sheet. These pockets may be folded accordion fashion to overlie the bottommost pocket 83 which is on the back sheet 72. Various articles to be used for` survival or for use by a hunter or other people, may be placed in the pockets. Thus pocket 91 may contain water purifying pills 91a. Identification cards may be placed in pockets 90, 86 and 83. Pocket 88 may contain a small tool 88a and fish hooks 88b. Pocket 87 may contain matches 87a. Pocket 85 may contain fishing line, safety pins, needles, strips of lead, hair pins, fishing fiies and a needle threader. Bandaids may be placed in pocket 84. The edge 16 may also be sharpened like a blade to provide a cutting edge, if desired.

Holes and 30 may also serve as a Wrench.

It will be noted that the cutting edge 47 may have an intermediate portion 47a which is either flat, more blunted or less sharp than portions of edge 47 on opposite sides thereof. The purpose of the hook 50 with the fiat or blunted part 47a is that when you gut an animal or open a package with the use of this tool', this construction prevents the material being cut from slipping out or olf the cutting edge 47. The material being cut lwill be retained within the hooked recessed cutting edge. The intermediate portion 47a of the inclined cutting'edge 47, is less sharp or more blunt than the remainder of the cutting edge 47, to allow the material being cut to slip up into the recessed hooked-cutting edge 50. It will be noted that the point 49 is Iblunted as shown in FIG. l. This blunted end 49 aids in preventing the material being cut to remain at the hooked recess, and also in can cutting as shown in FIG. 8. The tool may be generally said to comprise a plate. Said plate is formed with an opening 77a adjacent the groove 77. The opening 77a extends through the plate. The purpose of thehole 77a is to attach a fishing line to the plate when it is used as a fishing lure. In such case the fishing hook may be passed through the hole and `attached at the point which is the junction of edges 32, 33 of said hole.

Said plate may also be formed with a finger nail inserting groove 77b similar to groove 77 used to extricate the plate from an envelope or enclosure.

When striking the plate with a rock or stick as shown in FIG. 10, it is preferable to hold the tool with thengers passing through the hole 30, with the fingers tightly pressed together but holding the tool lightly.

Thus the device may be used to good advantage by pilots, soldiers, air travelers, back packers, on expeditions, by hunters, fishermen, guides and other people.

It will thus -be seen that there is provided an article in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set -forth as shown in the accompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A tool comprising a substantially fiat plate having substantially parallel end edges and substantially parallel upper and lower edges, said plate being disposed substantially -within the confines of a rectangle, the ends of which are along said end edges and the upper and lower sides of which are along said upper and lower edges of said plate, said plate having a first point disposed substantially at one end of said lower edge and substantially in line with one end edge of said plate, said plate being formed with a first inclined edge extending from said first point toward said upper edge and toward the opposite end edge and forming a first Wedge, said plate having a notch formed with an inner edge having spaced ends, said plate lbeing formed `with a second point at one end of said notch, said second point being disposed opposite to the other end of said notch, and spaced therefrom said plate being formed wit-h a second inclined edge extending from said second point toward said first end edge and toward said upper edge of said plate and forming a second wedge with an inner edge of said notch, said second wedge pointing toward said loweredge of said plate, said plate being formed with an opening located near said first end edge and disposed between said notch and said upper edge and having parallel ed-ges, parallel to said end edges of said plate, said notch being disposed between the ends of the inner edge of said notch and said opposite end edge of said plate.

2. The combination of claim 1, said inner edge of said notch comprising straight edge portions and said notch consituting a wrench hole.

3. The combination of claim l, a corner formed at the junction of said first end edge and said upper edge comprising a screw driver edge.

4. The combination of claim 1, one face of said plate having an inwardly curved annular recess.

5. The combination of claim 1, said plate being formed with a second opening having parallel edges inclined to said end edges.

6. The combination of claim 5, one corner of said second opening being located at a point where the plate will hang in balance with its upper edge in horizontal position.

7. The combination of claim 1, said plate being formed with an opening for reception of a filament, on which filament said plate `may hang in balance with its said upper edge in horizontal position, and said plate being magnetized.

8. The combination of claim 1, one of said end edges of said plate being formed with a V-shaped notch and with a bevelled surface extending to at least one of the edges of said notch, for prying up nails and tacks.

9. The combination of claim 1, one surface of said plate being formed with a serrated le surface.

10. The combination of claim 7, said last mentioned opening being rectangular in shape and having all its edges inclined to said end edges and to said upper and lower edges, and said plate having a tringular shaped serrated file portion on one surface thereof, having an edge parallel to an edge of said last vmentioned opening.

11. The combination of claim 1, said plate being tapered and decreasing in thickness from its upper edge toward its lower edge and from its first end edge toward its opposite end edge.

12. The combination of claim 1, said lower edge vbeing sharpened and constituting a cutting edge.

-13. The combination of claim 1, said first inclined edge of said plate having a cutting edge.

14. The combination of claim 1, said plate being formed with a hooked edge extending from said first inclined edge and said hooked edge comprising a sharpened cutting edge.

15. The combination of claim 14, said first inclined edge being sharpened to constitute a cutting edge.

1-6. The Acombination of claim 15, a corner of said plate at the junction of an end and one of said upper and lower edges comprising a screw driver edge.

17. The combination of claim 12, and said cutting edge at the lower edge of said plate having relatively more blunt and relatively less blunt longitudinal portions.

18. The combination of claim 16, said plate being formed with an opening adjacent the other end edge thereof.

19. The combinationof claim 18, said plate being provided with a match striking serrated surface.

20. The combination of claim 1, said plate comprising ing steel.

References Cited UNITED 2,783,536 3/1957 MCQueary 30-151 2,802,259 8/1957 Stoner.

ROBERT C. RIORDON, Primary Examiner STATES PATENTS 5 R. V. PARKER, JR.,`Assistanr Examiner Brace 7-17 v Klompus et al. U.S. C1. X.R. Hawes 150-34 7-17; ISO-,34, 35; 206-16, 38

Smith 7-14.25 X 

